Sam Newman Criticizes Acknowledgment of Country During Australia Day Ceremony

Sam Newman, a former AFL player and media personality, faced backlash after he walked out during an Acknowledgment of Country at an Australia Day event at Victoria's Government House. He described the ceremony as a 'sham' and claimed he left out of 'respect,' asserting that such acknowledgments are divisive and a recent invention imposed on Australians. Newman denied accusations that he turned his back on the Governor of Victoria, Margaret Gardner, stating he was filming himself rather than deliberately ignoring her speech. His comments have reignited discussions about the appropriateness of Welcome to Country ceremonies, which he believes contribute to racial divisions in Australia. Newman previously urged audiences to boo these ceremonies during an AFL Grand Final and has made controversial remarks about Indigenous issues in the past. His actions have sparked significant debate about respect and recognition of Indigenous culture in Australia.